US-Led Coalition Concludes Military Mission in Iraq
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Pentagon has officially announced the conclusion of the military mission of the US-led international coalition in Iraq, marking the end of Operation “Inherent Resolve.” This transition shifts security efforts to Iraqi-led initiatives, supported by bilateral security relations between Washington and Baghdad.
The US Department of War stated that it will continue to provide specialized training and intelligence support to its Iraqi partners. The Pentagon has asserted that the Iraqi government is now solely responsible for addressing security challenges, including remnants of ISIS and Iran-backed forces, as it seeks to frame the US withdrawal as having significant security implications.
Previously, the Iraqi government had announced that American forces would vacate their final bases in Iraq on Wednesday, coinciding with the expiration of the mandate for the international coalition in the country. This event occurs as Iraq enters a four-day official holiday period named “Sovereignty Days,” with the office of the Iraqi Prime Minister stating that October 1st will represent “a new day on the path of the Iraqi government.”
The withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, which commenced on Wednesday, signifies the culmination of a process that began two years prior. A joint statement issued by Iraq and the United States on September 27, 2024, had outlined a two-phase approach to ending the coalition’s mission: Phase one involved the cessation of military operations within Iraq by the end of September 2025. Phase two extended the mission until September 2026, focusing on supporting operations against ISIS in Syria through a platform designated by the High Joint Military Committee of both nations.
On January 18, 2026, the Iraqi High Military Committee declared the termination of the coalition’s mission and the complete evacuation of bases and command centers in federal regions by coalition advisors, including those at Ain al-Asad airbase and the Joint Operations Command headquarters. Nevertheless, logistical support for Syrian operations is slated to continue from an airbase in Erbil.
